Nearing the Finish Line

I always
enjoy the AAFP's annual meeting because of the excellent work of our
Congress of Delegates, great CME opportunities provided by Scientific Assembly, and the opportunity to network
with friends and colleagues, fellow family physicians from around the country. This month's events in San Diego, however, will have added significance for me as
I complete my term as AAFP Board Chair and six years of service on the Board of
Directors.

The location also is special. San Diego is a wonderful city with
many unique qualities, and it has sentimental significance for my wife and me
because it is where our relationship began. For those attending this year's
meetings -- which are scheduled for Sept. 22-25 and Sept. 24-28, respectively -- I know you also will make your own special connection with the city.

You may
not know that one of San Diego’s claims to fame is that it is the original site
of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. The marathon course is lined with live
bands roughly every mile, playing music to "rock" you onward.

The
marathon is a good metaphor for many individual and organizational
efforts.Features of planning,
training, endurance, perseverance, support and accomplishment are common to
both.

I've
always enjoyed challenges. Identifying a worthwhile goal, determining what is
necessary to achieve that goal, training and preparing, drawing on others for
support, and committing to seeing it through to the finish.

Some
years ago, I took on the challenge of completing a marathon. Not having been an
endurance runner, this was a stretch for me. I read about marathon training and
drew tips from friends who are runners. Training was a big time commitment with
occasional minor running injuries to work around. I convinced two younger
family members that they should run the same marathon so we could encourage
each other.

The day
of the Portland Marathon arrived, and my training had gone well. The weather
was great, and the first few miles went smoothly. The course in Portland is
lined with spectators offering encouragement -- not just to the elite runners
in the front, but also to those of us back in the pack.

I
learned about "hitting the wall," where your muscle glycogen is
exhausted, around mile 20. It was a struggle to continue, but pushing through to
the finish line was worth the effort. There was a tremendous mixture of
accomplishment and exhaustion when it was over. I collected my medal for
finishing, a T-shirt, a space blanket and a banana, and lay down to wait for my
younger family members to finish.

For me,
the next finish line is in San Diego. I’ve done my best to prepare myself to
represent our members, persevere through challenges along the way and draw on
the support of many others to succeed.

I'd like
to express my thanks to the AAFP Board members and Academy staff I've had the
privilege to work with, the many AAFP members who have provided support and
encouragement, and to my wife and fellow family physician Anne Montgomery,
M.D., without whom I could not have finished.

So what
comes after that finish line? Anne and I are relocating from Spokane, Wash., to
work at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Anne will be
associate director of a new family medicine residency program, and I
will be chief medical information officer and also will see patients.

My next
marathon? I’ll be continuing with you in our collective family medicine
marathon. Together, we've prepared ourselves for the critical role our country
needs us to play as the foundation of a high quality and cost-effective health
care system. We have a ways to go before we reach our goals. Working together
and supporting one another, we can push though that wall to achieve the vision
we seek.

You have been a true credit and inspiration to AAFP members. Good luck on your next "sprint" !! CMIO is a fun position to be in now! California's gain is Wahington's loss -- double fold with Anne's new position. See you in SD !

Glen,
Great Job!
Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to put family medicine in the right path.
I want you to know that you have inspired many Family Physicians across the country to pursue leadership to serve the specialty of Family Medicine.
As you reach the finish line at the AAFP leadership I congratulate you & Anne and send my sincere appreciation and best wishes for your future.
au revoir,
Ashok Kumar, San Antonio,TX

The opinions and views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the opinions and views of the American Academy of Family Physicians. This blog is not intended to provide medical, financial, or legal advice. All comments are moderated and will be removed if they violate our Terms of Use.